2nd only to Cruyff as an football idol personifying the ‘total football’ of Ajax & ‘that’ Netherlands side of 1974, Johan Neeskens has passed away at 73 years. He was a defensive midfielder, but played in such a swashbuckling manner, he could taken for an attacker. Along with his pal Johan Cruyff, he won 3 European Cups in the early 70s & then they both departed for Barcelona in 73/74 aiding the Catalans to their first league title in decades & halting the era of near monopoly of Franco’s beloved Real Madrid. I was lucky enough to see him play a handful of times for Barcelona & later when the NY Cosmos played in the UK & he didn’t disappoint. There’s plenty of footage on YouTube, have a look, he’s great. RIP.
